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About the 2026 Kauaʻi County Council Race

The Kauaʻi County Council is a seven-member body elected at-large, meaning every registered voter on Kauaʻi picks up to seven of the candidates from the same island-wide ballot — the top seven vote-getters in the general election win seats. The Council has no sub-districts; all seats are island-wide. As of the June 9, 2026 official filing record, 27 candidates initially filed for the race; Bart Thomas withdrew after filing, leaving 26 confirmed on the primary ballot. Council Chair Mel Rapozo vacated his seat to run for mayor. Fern Holland is among the filed candidates who previously served on the Council. The at-large structure means voters choose among all island-wide candidates on a single ballot. Key issues candidates have addressed in campaign coverage include housing affordability, the role of short-term vacation rentals, tourism-driven development, and public-safety and infrastructure investment. Voters should consult candidate websites, KKCR Elections forum recordings, and Honolulu Civil Beat candidate Q&As for verifiable stances.

Open seat — no incumbent running.

Primary date: 2026-08-08

POAI, Michael Roven

Party: Nonpartisan · Backing: Independent

Platform: Kapaʻa resident and machine operator; ran for Kauaʻi Mayor in 2022 and is now seeking a County Council seat.

  • Filed nomination papers for Kauaʻi County Council on approximately April 1, 2026; previously ran for Kauaʻi Mayor in the 2022 election.
  • On tourism (from 2022 Civil Beat Q&A): identified tourism-driven strain on roads, infrastructure, beaches, parks, trails, and resident housing costs as Kauaʻi's biggest challenge; called for honest, head-on plans to address tourism impacts rather than denial.
  • On cesspool conversion (from 2022 Civil Beat Q&A): argued that because government mandated the end of cesspools, government should subsidize or pay for the $15,000–$30,000 conversion cost rather than placing the burden entirely on homeowners.
  • On disaster preparedness (from 2022 Civil Beat Q&A): endorsed the county's mission to mitigate, prepare, and respond to natural disasters; supported learning from each event and revamping response plans.
  • Former member of the Kapaʻa Rotary Club; resides in Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi.

Editorial summary: Michael Roven Poai has the most documented public record among the no-website candidates thanks to his 2022 mayoral run and corresponding Civil Beat Q&A. His 2022 positions — government subsidy for cesspool conversion, honest reckoning with tourism costs, and steady disaster preparedness — suggest a pragmatic, resident-focused outlook. Whether those positions have evolved for his 2026 council bid is unknown; voters should consult KKCR forums and any updated Civil Beat coverage for current stances.

Key issues: Tourism management, Cesspool-to-sewer conversion, Disaster preparedness, Infrastructure

Profile last reviewed: 2026-06-03

Other candidates in this race